Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-03-11
RAJPOOT LEGENDS.
Land That Is Full of strangely interest
ing FOLKLORE.

On returning from the gardens the
conversation diyerged to Rajpoot le-
ccnds. one of which was recited 10y an
English gentleman, and n native poet
was introduced, who has the gift OF nm
promising interminable Guzcrat verses
upon vast themes. The land is full OF
strange folklore and legends, to coli |
lect which would repay the labor OF
any intelligent resident. The chiefs o.
Bhaonagar belong to the Gohil class
which desecnds from the Solar dynasty
of Udaipore. Thoy have fought, and
"drunk the red cup of peace, ana
fought again, ever since Akbar time
in 1880 A. d., and have whole liter
ature OF bardic ballads. Every village
possesses its martial or religious legend.
At Dandretia j. a well of sweet water
In the midst of the salt plain OF the
Bhal. The story is that merchant
named Dantasha resided at Danirctla,
whose son married a wife from inland.
When she came to her husband house
she wa, given salt water for bathing
but she refused to battle in salt water
and bathed with the water which she
had brought from her home IN large
earthcrn vessel. Her mothcr-in-laW
Knocked her and said: "1Ou had better
arrange for your father TO SEND you
bathing-water daily The BRIDE how
ever, declared she would die OF munger
rather than battle in salt water ana
for three dav, and nights she tasted,
worshiping Gaugaji with great deVo-
ton. At the end of the third night the
river GODDESS appeared TO her and told
her 70 take all of her relatives with her
To n spot north Of the village, and that
there they would see her (HangD now
inc. In the morning the bride begged
her relatives 10 accompany her 10 me
spot. but they laughed at her. Al last
they went, and 10 their surprise saw
stream of pure sweet water flowing
out of virda. They then congratu-
lated the bride, and after all bathing
therein returned home. This stream
j. still sweet. and has ever since
been named Gangwo. Then. again,
at Mandwa. near Bhaonagar. there
is a red Mahadcs stone when
marks where La Gohil the RaJpoo'
rode into the sea to please his lord
The Raiah Sidhrai had visited the sea
coast and come amongst other places
to Mandwa. On a certain day th'
waves were very violent and the sea
much aritatcd. at which time Nldhra
had zone down to the scashore attcnde,
, by several horscmcn. The King saiG
, "lIo would bee brave man who Woul'
7 ride hundred yards into the sea on
/ day like this" One of the horsem1l
I REPLIED. There is no race so roya
? and gallant a. the Gohil. One OF then
I MIGHT do it, but no one else would dar
e 10 do So. Another answered: "lh
( Cobu race is brave in talk. but thei
c bravery shows itself by boastlngs IN tn
markct-placc; there j. no KaJpoot Wh
!, would throw away his lie Tor such
c challenge" On hearing this La Noh
= placed hi, hand on his mustache, bad
5 iLrm all farewell. and urged his hors
G into the ocean. where he was quick
l. overwhelmed. And, once more, b
e way of Buddhistic legend, there
the folk-tale told by the villagers
It Noldi. spot sixty miles southwest
y Bhaoanaoar. There is large pastul
a Cid) close to Mold. of which III
h .Jhinihwa Grass is very sweet, and I'll
n milk Of both the cows and butialoes
N Moldi i Of excellent quality. Son
Charans Of the Panchal, who were dca
e or, in grain, happened to visit Mold
is and purchased a large quantity
Grain in the neighborhood. The
loaded their animals and placed lars
quantity of Jhinihwa grass benea
-, their packs. Then they set out +
~ Marwar. and when they reached Ia
>, they alightcd and sold their grain to
~ wealthy Wanna merchant. This me
III chant had a very beautiful wife. >
ch nut straw of the Jhinihwa grass
TX her her mouth and chewed it, and tn
IL smiled. Her husband, who was stan
= inc bv. asked her why she smiled. ,
begged him not to press her to tell, D
7" he insisted. Finally she told him IL
he in a previous incarnation she had be
dS doc antelope. and had been used
ne craze i'm the lands of Mold, and III
no the grass there was specially swe
'r' When she put the straw IN her mou
en- she at once recognized the flavor OF I
ed Moldi grass. Her husband question
~ the merchants, and they confirmed
cs' statement that the grass came tr'
ne Moldi. but after telling her husband I
ne She fell down dead.-Cor. London IL
H. graph.